Joe Ryan injury: Twins pitcher could miss rest of regular season with shoulder strain
Joe Ryan injury: Twins pitcher could miss rest of regular season with shoulder strain
The Twins' attempt at chasing down the Guardians will have to occur without their top starter
By R.J. Anderson • 1 min readThe Minnesota Twins will begin a pivotal four-game set against the Cleveland Guardians, the team they trail by 3 1/2 games in the American League Central, on Friday afternoon. Before that contest could get underway, Twins manager Rocco Baldelli announced an unfortunate development for his club, revealing that right-hander Joe Ryan had been diagnosed with a Grade 2 teres major strain in his right shoulder. Baldelli told reporters the injury will sideline Ryan for "weeks to months."
Ryan, 28, has since been placed on the injured list. (Right-hander Scott Blewett was promoted to take his spot on the active roster.) In 23 starts this season, he's amassed a 3.60 ERA (115 ERA+) and a 6.39 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Ryan suffered the injury on Wednesday, departing his start against the Chicago Cubs after throwing 29 pitches.
The teres major, for those not aware, is a muscle that connects the scapula and the humerus. It's the same muscle that Texas Rangers starter Max Scherzer strained last September. That injury cost him a month of action and nearly prevented him from pitching in the postseason as part of the Rangers' World Series run.